Conference realignment has the Michigan State Spartans traveling out west to take on the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium. Our Michigan State vs. USC preview has you covered with the latest info, head-to-head record, PFSN player grades, and a prediction for the must-watch matchup.
Michigan State vs. USC Details
- Date: Sat., Sept. 20, 2025
- Game time: 11 p.m. ET
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
- Predicted weather at kick: 70 degrees, clear
- How to watch: FOX
Michigan State vs. USC Head-to-Head Record
This series between Michigan State and USC dates back to 1963, but there have been only eight games played since then, and two of those games were in the same season, in 1987.
Michigan State is currently on a three-game win streak head-to-head, which is their longest ever. USC also won three in a row in 1967, 1972, and 1978. It is important to note that this is the first time that they face off, both being members of the Big Ten conference, and we will see this series much more often as the years go by.
Michigan State vs. USC Grades
Below are the PFSN team and positional grades for the highest-ranked players set to be featured in Michigan State vs. USC.
PFSN College OFFi
- Michigan State (83.38, B)
- USC (93.59, A)
PFSN College DEFi
- Michigan State (80.74, B-)
- USC (85.4, B)
PFSN College OL
- Michigan State (83.36, B)
- USC (88.42, B+)
PFSN College QBi
- Aidan Chiles, Michigan State (84.1, B)
- Jayden Maiava, USC (94.4, A)
PFSN College RBi
- Makhi Frazier, Michigan State (72.22, C-)
- Waymond Jordan, USC (82.51, B-)
PFSN College WRi
- Nick Marsh, Michigan State (82.34, B-)
- Makai Lemon, USC (87.1, B+)
PFSN College TEi
- Michael Masunas, Michigan State (85.56, B)
- Lake McRee, USC (85.65, B)
PFSN College EDGEi
- Jalen Thompson, Michigan State (75.86, C)
- Kameryn Fountain, USC (80.88, B-)
PFSN College DTi
- Grady Kelly, Michigan State (84.2, B)
- Devan Thompkins, USC (82.03, B-)
PFSN College LBi
- Wayne Matthews III, Michigan State (82.15, B-)
- Eric Gentry, USC (78.7, C+)
PFSN College CBi
- Chance Rucker, Michigan State (81.55, B-)
- Chasen Johnson, USC (77.79, C+)
PFSN College SAFi
- Nikai Martinez, Michigan State (79.88, C+)
- Bishop Fitzgerald, USC (88.32, B+)
Michigan State vs. USC Prediction
Both teams are off to fast 3-0 starts, and the offense for Michigan State looks legit. They have scored over 40 points in each of their last two games and look to make a statement in a tough road environment. However, they will face a tall task against PFSN’s fourth-ranked offense, using our College OFFi metric, which factors in everything to determine which teams are for real.
USC has been impressive as well to start the year, with three wins, including an impressive 16-point win on the road at Purdue in their first Big Ten game of the season. When you are talking USC, it all starts with standout QB Jayden Maiava. Maiava has thrown for 989 yards, six touchdowns, and has yet to throw an interception on the year. He has the best QB Rating in all of college football, sitting right now at 94.3.
The USC defense looked good last time out, but the deciding matchup will definitely be how Michigan State executes its offense against the Trojans’ defense, and I think they will gamble downfield and try to exploit a solid, but beatable, cornerback group.
Aidan Chiles consistently executing the deep ball is the Spartans’ only chance at completing the upset. Although I think they will play solid, I don’t think they will win this game. The defense is the weakest link for this Spartans team, and without much of a real test to this point in the year, I expect USC to jump on Michigan State early and hang on for a nice win in front of the home crowd.
Prediction: USC 42, Michigan State 31
